Octavian

Octavian comes from the Roman name Octavianus, which indicated a connection with the Octavius family. Octavius itself is related to the Latin word for eight. The familiar shorthand meaning eighth therefore reaches Octavian through a Roman family-name pattern rather than implying that every person with the name was an eighth child.

The name is especially associated with the future emperor Augustus, who is conventionally called Octavian when discussing the period before he received the title Augustus. That gives it a substantial place in Roman political history. Octavian preserves that classical identity, while the related Octavius and Octavio show different forms parents may encounter within the same wider name family.